Wheeled apparatus, system, and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method for a wheeled apparatus includes selective adjustment of at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels in order to achieve a target characteristic from among strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board. A front and rear caster wheel may be laterally centered, and one or more sets of centrally positioned wheels may be fore and aft centered to form a generally diamond configuration. The centrally positioned wheels may be raised relative to the front and rear wheels. Adjusting mechanisms enable adjustment of heights, fore and aft positions, and the number of centrally positioned wheels.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/957,303 entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FORWHEELED APPARATUS”, filed on Aug. 22, 2007 for Justin Francom et al.,which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to wheel boards and more particularly relates toplacement and orientation of wheels on wheel board decks.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wheel boards having a variety of wheel configurations are known. Thesewheel boards have been in use for a century or more. The skateboard hasbecome more or less popular during periods of recent decades. Advancesin materials and technologies have provided a basis for improved wheels,bearings, and decks. For example, a variety of materials have been usedto form decks having a range of flexibility characteristics.

More recently wheel boards have been formed with decks having one ormore pieces and caster type wheels. Some boards have a combination ofcasters and fixed axle wheels. However, the effectiveness of the wheelcombinations discovered in the prior art is not known. In particular,combination wheel type wheel boards are not currently in wide use.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable wheel board configurations and manufacturing techniques.Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide awheeled apparatus, system, and method that overcome many or all of theshortcomings in the art. In particular, the wheeled apparatus of thepresent invention has one or more adjustment mechanisms for adjustingfixed axle positions of one or more centrally located wheels. Apredetermined number and position of these wheels can thus remain fixedto achieve desired characteristics during use in one application orunder certain conditions. Then the number and/or positions can bechanged to achieve a different characteristic as desired.

In a simple form a wheeled apparatus in accordance with one embodimentof the invention includes a deck and a plurality of wheels connected tothe deck. The wheels may be configured in a substantially diamond shapeto support the deck and a weight of a user. The plurality of wheels inthis configuration include a lower set of wheels with each wheel of thelower set being equipped with a castering mechanism to allow the wheelsto rotate 360 degrees in a horizontal plane. The plurality of wheelsalso includes an adjustably supported raised set of wheels configured toallow the apparatus to tilt while the lower set of wheels support thedeck and the user.

In another simple form, a wheeled apparatus system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention includes a wheeled sport deck having casterwheels supported at front and rear ends of the deck on a longitudinalfore and aft axis. In this embodiment, the wheeled apparatus systemincludes at least one adjustment mechanism. A set of laterallypositioned central wheels is adjustably supported on the deck by theadjustment mechanism at a position along a length of the deck betweenthe caster wheels.

In another simple form, a method of using a wheel board in accordancewith another embodiment includes determining at least one targetcharacteristic including at least one of a strength, stability,maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board. The methodalso includes selectively adjusting at least one of a number of wheelsand a position of the wheels to achieve the at least one targetcharacteristic.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. The invention may be practiced without one or more of thespecific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In otherinstances, additional features and advantages may be recognized incertain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of theinvention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings depict only typical embodiments of theinvention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of itsscope. Embodiments of the invention are described and explained withsome specificity with regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a wheel configuration of a wheelboard in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an orthogonal view of an alternative wheel configuration ofan embodiment of the present invention having four raised wheels;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the wheel configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a bottom view of an alternative wheel configuration havingthree sets of wheels;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the wheel configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial bottom view showing an example wheel orientation ofthe wheels in the configuration of FIG. 1 during a turning operation;and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic block diagram of a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided, such as examples user selections, etc., to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. However, the inventionmay be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or withother methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally setforth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order andlabeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method.Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent infunction, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, ofthe illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employedare provided to explain the logical steps of the method and areunderstood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrowtypes and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, theyare understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method.Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only thelogical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate awaiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumeratedsteps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which aparticular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order ofthe corresponding steps shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the top of one embodiment of awheel board or wheeled apparatus 200 a. The wheel configuration may beattached to any of a plurality of decks 100, a representation of whichis indicated by dashed lines. In one embodiment, there is a plurality ofwheels 202 spaced along a central laterally extending axis 206. In thisembodiment, the wheels 202 do not swivel about a vertically extendingaxis. Thus, the apparatus moves in a direction generally perpendicularto the central laterally extending axis 206. A second set of wheels 204are located on a second fore and aft extending axis 210 relative towhich the laterally extending axis 206 is transverse. In one embodiment,the fore and aft extending axis 210 is perpendicular to the centrallaterally extending axis 206. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the secondset of wheels 204 are each equipped with a swiveling or casteringmechanism 212. In one embodiment, the wheels 204 are casters. The wheels202 and the second set of wheels 204 are set in a diamond-likeconfiguration with the second set of wheels 204 at the front and back ofthe apparatus and the wheels 202 on the two opposite lateral sides ofthe apparatus. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are two wheels 202 onthe central axis 206. The wheels 202 are located on the ends of thecentral axis 206. The second set of wheels 204 is located at the frontand back of the apparatus 200 a.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the number of wheels 202 can be adjusted by theuser. For example, four wheels 202 a may be placed along the laterallyextending central axis 206. To this end, the wheeled apparatuses 200 a-dand 300 (see also FIGS. 2-3) may include a wheel number adjustingmechanism for adjusting a number of the laterally positioned centralwheels 202, 202 a, 252 a. The mechanism for adjusting the number ofwheels may include through holes or slots 220, tightening mechanisms230, the additional wheels, and/or wheel mounting bases/axles. Thus, theselective adjustment of the number of wheels and their placement may beachieved by supporting the wheels on a single common axle or by aligninga plurality of axles on the laterally extending axis. Additionally oralternatively, additional wheels may be positioned on one or moreadditional axis 252 a, as shown and described with regard to FIG. 2A.Adding wheels on the laterally extending axis or on an additional axisimproves the stability of an apparatus 200 b and increases the contactarea between the wheels 202 a and the ground. The increase in contactarea between the wheels 202 a and the ground increases the strength ofthe apparatus 200 b and the grip between the road and the apparatus 200b. The user may add wheels to increase stability and control to aid infaster maneuvering and higher speeds, for example. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the apparatus has only two wheels 202 and is,therefore, lighter weight. The user may thus use two wheels 202 tolessen the weight of the apparatus for trick riding and for transportingthe apparatus, and switch to the four or more wheel configuration ofFIG. 1A when he or she needs the stability and maneuverability at higherspeeds.

In an embodiment of an apparatus 200 c shown in FIG. 2, the second foreand aft extending axis 210 intersects the central axis 206 at a midpointof the central laterally extending axis 206. The laterally extendingaxis 206 also generally intersects the fore and aft extending axis 210at its midpoint. However, other configurations may also be implementedin which one or both of the axes are not centered between the wheels ofthe other axis. In the illustrated embodiment of the illustratedapparatus 200 c, however, the midpoint of the central axis 206 islocated halfway between the wheels 202.

In one embodiment, the number of central axes 206/256 with wheels202/252 is adjustable by the user. For example, in an embodiment of anapparatus 200 d shown in FIG. 2A, a second laterally extending centralaxis 256 a has been added rearwardly of the first laterally extendingcentral axis 206 a. The addition of a second laterally extending centralaxis 256 a and a second set of wheels 252 a disposed on the secondlaterally extending central axis 256 a gives the apparatus 200 d morestability and wheel surface contact area. One or more further additionallaterally extending axes may be added without limitation to furtherincrease stability and wheel surface contact area. The general diamondshape may be conserved as axes and wheels are added.

In one embodiment, the height difference 320 between the plane of thewheels 202 and the plate of the second set of wheels 204 is adjustableby the user. (See FIG. 3.) For example, the user adjusts the sets ofwheels 202 and 204 to have a smaller height difference 320 for increasedstability and generally larger turning radii. On the other hand, theuser adjusts to a larger height difference 320 between the sets ofwheels 202 and 204 in order to facilitate performing tricks and togenerally enable smaller turning radii. The height adjustment mechanismmay include a stepped bolt that can be easily removed and repositionedto provide two or more height differences 320. Alternatively, aplurality of wheels sizes can be provided for interchanging to create aplurality of height differences 320. In the wheeled apparatus 300, theraised set of wheels 202 may have a height adjustment mechanism of oneof these or another type that supports them on the deck 100. The raisedset of wheels 202 are thus adjustable by the user to at least one ofincrease stability, decrease stability, and adapt the apparatus todesired riding conditions.

For example, the embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic side view ofan apparatus 300 with a first set of wheels 202 and the second set ofwheels 204 that are located in different planes. When resting on a flatsurface, the wheels 202 are in a plane that is vertically higher thanthe plane of the second set of wheels 204. The wheels 202 may act asstabilizers for the apparatus 300. The wheels 202 on opposite lateralsides of the deck 100 may toggle back and forth between contacting aground surface on which the apparatus is supported as the apparatus isbalanced on the second set of wheels 204. For example, when theapparatus 300 is resting on a flat ground surface, the wheels 204 of thesecond set of wheels both contact the flat surface. The apparatus 300will travel in a direction generally along the axis 210 (shown anddescribed with regard to FIGS. 1-2A). While moving, the apparatus maytravel either on the second set of wheels 204 or on the second set ofwheels 204 and one of the wheels 202. When the ground surface is flat,the apparatus 300 is never supported on the second set of wheels 204 andboth wheels 202. This is due to the fact that a plane generally definedby the second set of wheels 204 and one of the wheels 202 is never thesame as the plane generally defined by the second set of wheels 204 andthe other wheel of the wheels 202. This is due to the fact that thewheels 202 are set in a higher vertical plane than the second set ofwheels 204.

In one embodiment, the second set of wheels 204 is equipped with acastering mechanism 212. The castering mechanism 212 allows the secondset of wheels 204 to rotate or swivel 360 degrees in a generallyhorizontal plane. This gives the apparatus the highest range of motionpossible. The horizontal plane rotation of the second set of wheels 204allows the apparatus to turn at a higher turn angle than would bepossible without the castering mechanism 212. The plane of swiveling orrotation may be canted slightly to provide increased stability or forother purposes. The turn angle may be expressed as an angle relative tothe second axis 210. Achieving an angle of turn may be accomplished bycausing angling of each of the second set of wheels 204 relative to thesecond axis 210.

In an example shown in FIG. 4, one wheel of the second set of wheels 204is at an angle 402 from the second axis 210 while the other wheel of thesecond set of wheels 204 is at an angle 404 extending from an oppositeside of the second axis 210. The angle 402 and the angle 404 may beslightly different depending on the movement of the apparatus but arequite often close to equal and opposite in regular use. FIGS. 2 and 2Ashow the second set of wheels at generally equal angles relative to theaxis 210. That is, the angles of wheels 204 in FIGS. 2 and 2A arenon-opposite, which corresponds to translational movement of the wheelboard apparatus in a direction transverse to the axis 210. In FIG. 4, onthe other hand, the apparatus is moving in the direction 406 and isturning to the left 408. In this turn, the left wheel 202 may be incontact with the ground as well as the second set of wheels 204. Theright wheel 202 may not in contact the ground in this turn. The turnmade by the apparatus may be similar in radius to a circle made by usingthe left wheel 202 as the center of the circle and the wheels 204 aspoints on the circle. For other turns, the second set of wheels 204 canrotate on the castering mechanisms 212 in a similar manner toaccommodate different turning directions and angles. In use, the userinitiates a turn by applying force to one side or another of theapparatus. The radius of the turn is controlled by the amount of forcethat is applied as well as the duration of time for which the force isapplied.

In one embodiment, the castering mechanisms 212 allow the apparatus totravel equally well in both directions along the second axis 210 ratherthan being unidirectional. This is because the second set of wheels 204can rotate to accommodate or face the direction of the movement of theapparatus.

In the illustrated embodiments, the substantially diamond configurationof the wheels gives the apparatus stability. In one embodiment, thecastering devices 212 on the wheels 204 at the front and rear positionsof the diamond configuration are used in conjunction with the fixedwheels 202 at the lateral positions of the diamond configuration to helpinsure that the deck 100 will be stable in moving in a particulardirection of motion while still allowing the apparatus to tilt in thedirection perpendicular to the motion. The majority of the motion is ina direction parallel to the axis 210 because of the fixed wheels 202.This configuration gives a combination of stability and maneuverabilitythat cannot be achieved through the use of castering wheels alone orfixed wheels alone.

In one embodiment, the position of the laterally extending central axis206 along the second fore and aft extending axis 210 is adjustable bythe user. The laterally extending central axis 206 may still intersectthe fore and aft extending axis 210 at the midpoint of the laterallyextending central axis 206, but the laterally extending central axis 206may be moved to different positions along the fore and aft extendingaxis 210. For example, the user may move the laterally extending centralaxis 206 toward the forward facing wheel 204 to improve the stability ofthe apparatus for faster riding. The user may move the laterallyextending central axis 206 toward the rear wheel 204 to facilitatesharper angled turning. This fore and aft adjustment may be facilitated,for example, by one or more through openings or a slot 220 extendingalong a length of the deck for adjustably supporting the wheels 202/252(see FIGS. 1 and 2A) at any of a variety of positions along the lengthof the deck 100. The slot 220 may also be termed a through opening andmay have a configuration that enables generally linear adjustment alongthe slot. In this way, the centrally positioned wheels may include axlesthat are linearly movable for adjustment of the wheels in a fore and aftdirection. The adjustment mechanism may thus include the through holes,slot 220, and/or one or more tightening mechanisms 225 for securing awheel mounting base or axle in a desired position in the through holesor slot 220. The tightening mechanism may include threads or cams, forexample. In one embodiment, the fore and aft adjusting mechanism hasdiscrete axle positioning anchors. These may take the form of horizontalholes in the deck that receive and support one or more axles at one ormore positions. Alternatively, a rail having positioning anchorstructure may be coupled to the deck for receiving and supporting theaxle(s). Further alternatively the rails may have continuous slot inwhich the axles are slidably supported. The axles can then be fixed by atightening mechanism at desired positions.

The wheel configurations of apparatuses 200 a-d and 300 shown in FIGS. 1to 4 may form part of any of a plurality of apparatuses in accordancewith the various embodiments described herein. In one embodiment, thewheel configuration is attached to a solid deck. In other embodimentsthe wheels are attached to decks that include open frames. For example,the wheels may be attached to the open frames shown and described inco-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 61/091,278, entitled“APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPEN FRAMES FOR SPORT DECKS”, filedAug. 22, 2008 by Larry Francom, which is incorporated herein byreference. The wheels 202, 202 a, 204, 252 a, and swiveling or casteringmechanisms 212 may be attached to open frames by the wheel mountingbases shown and described the U.S. Patent application No. 61/091,278 Thecastering mechanisms 212 may be attached on the front and rear ends ofthe deck. Alternatively, front and rear sets of wheels supported onskateboard wheel trucks may be attached on front and rear ends of thedeck.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic block diagram of a method 500 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. With regard to FIG. 5, amethod of using a wheeled apparatus or wheel board 500 includesdetermining a target characteristic such as a strength, stability,maneuverability, and/or wheel surface contact for a wheel board, asindicated at 505. The method also includes selectively adjusting a wheelconfiguration for the wheel board, as indicated at 510.

The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may include adjustinga number of wheels and/or a position of the wheels to achieve the targetcharacteristic(s). In one embodiment, selectively adjusting includesselectively adjusting a number of centrally positioned wheels that liebetween a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, as indicated at515. In a broad range the number of these centrally positioned wheelsmay be in a range from 1 to 17. In an intermediate range the number maybe from 3 to 11. In a narrower range, the number of centrally positionedwheels may be from 5 to 7. An odd number of centrally positioned wheelsmay correspond to a configuration with a laterally centered wheel plusan even number of centrally and laterally positioned wheels 202, forexample. In another embodiment, the operation of adjusting the number ofcentrally positioned wheels may include selectively adjusting a numberof centrally and laterally g positioned wheels between the forward mostand a rearward most wheel. The number of wheels may be any number withinthe ranges set forth above. In specific ranges these centrally andlaterally positioned wheels may number from 4 to 8 in one range or from2 to 4 in an alternative range.

The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may includeselectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positionedwheel within an extent between the forward most wheel and the rearwardmost wheel, as indicated at 520 in FIG. 5. It is to be understood thatthe forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel define a wheelbasehaving a distance between the forward most and rearward most wheels. Inthis case, selectively adjusting the position of at least one centrallypositioned wheel may include positioning one or more centrallypositioned wheels from no distance to one-half the distance as measuredfrom either or both the forward most wheel or the rearward most wheelalong the wheelbase. In another case, selectively adjusting the positionof at least one centrally positioned wheel may include positioning oneor more centrally positioned wheels from one-eighth the distance toone-half the distance as measured from either or both the forward mostwheel or the rearward most wheel along the wheelbase. In still anothercase, selectively adjusting the position of at least one centrallypositioned wheel may include positioning one or more centrallypositioned wheels from one-third the distance to one-half the distanceas measured from either or both the forward most wheel or the rearwardmost wheel along the wheelbase. It is to be understood that thecentrally positioned wheels may be located at any position within theseranges.

The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may include adjustinga position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lowerextent in a higher plane than a lower extent of the forward most wheeland the rearward most wheel. For calculation purposes, it is to beunderstood that the lower extent of the forward most wheel and therearward most wheel define a first lower plane 330, as shown in FIG. 3.Thus, the centrally positioned wheels may be adjusted to be in a secondhigher plane 340 in a range from one-sixteenth inch higher than thefirst lower plane 330 to a height above the first lower plane 330 thatis equivalent to twice a height of an upper surface of the deck from theground. In a narrower range, selectively adjusting a height position ofat least one centrally positioned wheel includes positioning thecentrally positioned wheel such that the second higher plane 340 is in arange from one-eighth inch higher than the first lower plane 330 to aheight above the first lower plane 330 that is equivalent to the heightof the upper surface of the deck from the ground.

Position adjustment of the centrally positioned wheels may bepractically achieved by an alternative opposite relative movement of oneor both of the forward most and rearward most wheels. That is, theadjustment mechanisms and adjustments may be applied to the front andrear wheels instead of the centrally positioned wheels to achieve asimilar relative positioning.

In one embodiment incorporating solid deck configurations, the wheels202 may be attached to a cross bar at a center of the deck in a fore andaft direction of the deck. The user may stand or sit on the deck. Inanother embodiment, two separate boards or decks may replace the soliddeck configuration. Each deck may have one castering mechanism 212 and acaster wheel 204 attached thereto. The two decks may be attachedtogether by a rod. Respective crossbars may be attached perpendicularlyrelative to the rod to support each of the two separate decks. Thewheels 202 may be attached to the ends of the crossbars. In using thewheel board of this two-deck embodiment, the user stands with one footon each deck. In another embodiment, the wheel configuration is attachedto a small sized car body. In the car body embodiment, the user may sitin the car body and lean to shift weight and steer the car.

In one embodiment, the type and size of the wheels can be changed by theuser. In one embodiment, the user attaches larger, off-road type wheelsfor increased traction and rougher terrain. In another embodiment, theuser attaches smaller, harder wheels for street riding and increasedspeed.

It is to be understood that the term axis as used herein may be definedas including one or more axles that support wheels along a particularline. Thus, for example, the laterally extending axes may each includeone or more laterally extending axles. Likewise, a fore and aftextending axis may include plural axles disposed on a fore and aftextending line.

It is to be understood that features of the various illustratedembodiments may be applied in any combination without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example more than two wheels maybe placed on any laterally extending axis 206 and the laterallyextending axis 206 may be placed in a different vertical plane than thefore and aft extending axis 210.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A wheeled apparatus comprising: a deck; a plurality of wheelsconnected to the deck and configured in a substantially diamond shape tosupport the deck and a weight of a user, the plurality of wheelscomprising: a lower set of wheels, each being equipped with a casteringmechanism allowing the wheels to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontalplane; and an adjustably supported raised set of wheels configured toallow the apparatus to tilt while the lower set of wheels support thedeck and the user.
 2. The wheeled apparatus of claim 1, wherein theraised set of wheels are adjustable by the user to allow the raised setof wheels to be moved longitudinally in a fore and aft direction alongan axis between the lower set of wheels.
 3. The wheeled apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the raised set of wheels have a height adjustmentmechanism, the raised set of wheels being adjustable by the user to atleast one of increase stability, decrease stability, and adapt to theapparatus to desired riding conditions.
 4. The wheeled apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a third set of wheels that increasesstability and surface contact area of the wheels.
 5. The wheeledapparatus of claim 4, wherein the third set of wheels is supported on anaxis that is a common axis for the third set of wheels and the raisedset of wheels.
 6. The wheeled apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:a fore and aft extending longitudinal axis on which the lower set ofwheels is supported; and a first laterally extending axis on which theraised set of wheels is supported, the first laterally extending axisextending transversely to the fore and aft extending longitudinal axis;wherein the third set of wheels is supported on a second laterallyextending axis spaced from the first laterally extending axis.
 7. Awheeled apparatus system, comprising: a wheeled sport deck having casterwheels supported at front and rear ends of the deck on a longitudinalfore and aft axis; at least one adjustment mechanism; and a set oflaterally positioned central wheels adjustably supported on the deck bythe at least one adjustment mechanism at a position along a length ofthe deck between the caster wheels.
 8. The wheeled apparatus system ofclaim 7, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a foreand aft adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of the laterallypositioned central wheels along a length of the deck.
 9. The wheeledapparatus system of claim 8, wherein the fore and aft adjustingmechanism comprises at least one through opening in the deck.
 10. Thewheeled apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the at least one adjustmentmechanism comprises a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a heightof the laterally positioned central wheels relative to the casterwheels.
 11. The wheeled apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the atleast one adjustment mechanism comprises a wheel number adjustingmechanism for adjusting a number of the laterally positioned centralwheels.
 12. A method of using a wheel board, the method comprising:determining at least one target characteristic including at least one ofa strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for awheel board; and selectively adjusting at least one of a number ofwheels and a position of the wheels to achieve the at least one targetcharacteristic.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein selectivelyadjusting comprises selectively adjusting a number of centrallypositioned wheels between a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheelto include a number of wheels in a range from 3 to
 11. 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjustinga number of centrally and laterally positioned wheels between a forwardmost and a rearward most wheel to include a number of wheels in a rangefrom 4 to
 8. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the forward most wheeland the rearward most wheel define a wheelbase having a distance, themethod comprising selectively adjusting a position of at least onecentrally positioned wheel within a range extending between andincluding a position of the forward most wheel and the rearward mostwheel.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein selectively adjustingcomprises selectively adjusting the position of the at least onecentrally positioned wheel to be in an extent from one-eighth toone-half the distance as measured from the forward most wheel.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectivelyadjusting the position of the at least one centrally positioned wheel tobe in an extent from one-eighth to one-half the distance as measuredfrom the rearward most wheel.
 18. The method of claim 12, whereinselectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a position of atleast one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent higher thana lower extent of a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel,wherein a difference in the lower extents is in a range fromone-sixteenth inch to twice a height of a deck of the wheel board. 19.The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprisesselectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positionedwheel to have a lower extent higher than a lower extent of a forwardmost wheel and a rearward most wheel, wherein a difference in the lowerextents is in a range from one-eighth inch to a height of a deck of thewheel board.